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<\/p>\n ATP Tour
\n Journey to Jeddah: The dynamics behind Blockx’s rise & Nadal’s influence on Landaluce<\/p>\n
Watch episode two of the new Journey to Jeddah series, which features Landaluce and Blockx<\/p>\n
December 07, 2025<\/p>\n
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Measured, thoughtful and quietly driven, Martin Landaluce<\/a> carries the aura of a young player shaped not only by talent but by the powerful influences around him. Raised in Madrid before relocating to Mallorca as a teenager, the 19-year-old settled into life at the renowned Rafa Nadal Academy, the setting for Episode 2 of the new Journey to Jeddah series. It is here, on these pristine courts, that much of his growth has taken place.<\/p>\n A former US Open<\/a> boys\u2019 singles champion and now a two-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist, Landaluce credits part of his progress to a unique apprenticeship few players his age experience: training with Rafael Nadal<\/a> himself.<\/p>\n \u201cOn this first court is where I practised with [Nadal] several times,\u201d Landaluce said, looking over the courts in Mallorca. \u201cHe destroyed me. He hits very hard when practicing, very hard. But I had a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The mentorship didn\u2019t end at the baseline. His conversations with Toni Nadal<\/a>, Rafa\u2019s uncle and long-time coach, often stretched far beyond forehands and footwork.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about things normally no one asks you,\u201d Landaluce said. \u201cBut he doesn\u2019t have a filter, so if he wants to ask you that he is going to do it and I like that from him and I admire him. It is good to do that reflection.\u201d<\/p>\n Family has also played a defining role in Landaluce\u2019s journey. His father, Alejandro, still competes on the ITF Seniors Tour, while both his siblings share the same competitive fire. Their unity was once captured in a story almost too improbable to believe.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a funny story that my dad, my sister, my brother and myself, we won the same tournament in the same week in different categories,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI think that is very, very difficult and rare in the history of tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n If Landaluce\u2019s path has been shaped by family and mentorship, Alexander Blockx<\/a>\u2019s story begins with sibling rivalry and the moment a young boy realised he wanted to be on the court, not just watching from the side.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to sit on the bench and watch a lot, what my brother was doing,\u201d the 20-year-old Belgian said. \u201cI love competing because I always tried to do better than him. My coach asked me if I wanted to try and at first I was a bit shy, and then eventually I started hitting and it was so nice and I had the feeling instantly.\u201d<\/p>\n That early spark has evolved into a dynamic, forward-leaning style that powered Blockx to two ATP Challenger Tour titles this season and a place at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI am pretty quick for my height,\u201d said World No. 116 Blockx. \u201cI can attack really well from my forehand. My serve has got a lot better and my backhand now I can attack with it. I think the key is to be as aggressive as you can otherwise you have no chance to beat the best players.\u201d<\/p>\n At the core of Blockx\u2019s rise is one of the most enduring partnerships in the sport. Philippe Cassiers<\/a>, his coach since childhood, has been guiding him for 16 years, a rarity in the modern game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have known each other for 16 years now. It is rare to have such a long relationship in sport and in general,\u201d Blockx said. \u201cIt is becoming more like a family.\u201d<\/p>\n Cassiers agreed: \u201cIt is a long, trusted relationship. We don\u2019t need too many words or signs to understand where we are going. We are enjoying the process.\u201d<\/p>\n